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Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain. Example: The hippocampus is known to generate new neurons throughout a person's life.

Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in their activity. Example: Long-term potentiation (LTP) at glutamatergic synapses, which is essential for learning and memory.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a long-lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons that results from their simultaneous activation. Example: LTP is a major cellular mechanism behind learning and memory.

Competitive plasticity is the concept that synaptic connections will become stronger with frequent activation and survive, while rarely activated synapses will weaken and may eventually be pruned. Example: Dominant use of one language can reduce the synaptic strength for another language if not used frequently.

BDNF is a protein that supports the survival of existing neurons and encourages the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. Example: BDNF levels increase with exercise, which can lead to improved cognitive function.

Structural plasticity refers to the brain's ability to physically change its structure in response to learning, experience, or environment. Example: Changes in dendritic spines during learning and memory tasks.

Functional plasticity is the brain's ability to move functions from a damaged area of the brain to undamaged areas. Example: Stroke patients often recover abilities as other areas of the brain take over functions of the damaged tissue.

Use-dependent plasticity is a form of plasticity where the brain changes as a consequence of task repetition and practice. Example: Typists have larger and more developed hand regions in the brain's somatosensory cortex.

Experience-dependent plasticity is the continuous process by which the brain changes and reorganizes itself based on sensory experiences throughout a person's life. Example: Learning to play a musical instrument changes motor areas responsible for controlling relevant muscles.

Cortical remapping refers to the process by which the functional map of the brain's cortex changes, often in response to injury, learning, or experience. Example: When a limb is amputated, other sensory areas may expand into the area that was once devoted to that limb.

Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, is the ability of the neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. Example: After a stroke, other parts of the brain could take over the functions of the damaged areas.

Long-term depression (LTD) is a long-lasting decrease in synaptic strength that occurs with less frequent activation of a synaptic connection. Example: LTD can undo LTP, which can reset connections to a baseline state for new learning.

Mirror neurons are neurons that fire both when an animal acts and when the animal observes the same action performed by another. Example: Mirroring systems may help us understand actions and intentions of others, playing a role in empathy and learning by imitation.

Pruning is the process of synapse elimination that occurs between early childhood to the onset of puberty in humans, helping to streamline the structure of neural networks. Example: The reduction of gray matter during the teenage years as the brain becomes more specialized.